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Manhunt underway for Waterbury man after fatal shooting of mother, infant in Hartford

Lance Morales, 23, of Waterbury, is to be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone who sees him should not approach him and instead call 911.
Credit: HARTFORD POLICE
Lance Morales AKA “Macho” is a suspect in the fatal shooting of mother and daughter in Hartford.

HARTFORD, Conn. — Hartford police are coordinating with other local, state and federal agencies in an active manhunt to find the suspect of a fatal shooting of a woman and an infant on Tuesday.

Investigators are asking for the public’s help to locate the whereabouts of Lance Morales, 23, of Waterbury, also known as "Macho," who should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone who sees him should not approach him and instead call 911.

According to police, Morales has a criminal record and was last seen in a white Infiniti Q70 plate number 3NE-B35. He has access to multiple vehicles. 

A judge issued an arrest warrant for two counts of murder, one count of assault and other charges.

Morales is believed to be the trigger man who fatally shot Jessiah Mercado, 20, and her infant son, Messiah Diaz, both of Springfield, Mass., on New Britain Avenue Tuesday. 

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The gun used in the shooting was equipped with a Glock switch, which is a cheap and illegal modification that essentially converts a semi-automatic pistol into a wildly inaccurate automatic weapon with a nearly uncontrollable rate of fire. 

Surveillance video confirmed Morales pulled his vehicle alongside the victim’s vehicle and opened fire, not only killing the mother and child but also leaving a man in his 20's with non-life-threatening injuries.

"I want to talk to Lance right now," Hartford Police Chief Kenny Howell said. "Lance, you have no other option but to hand yourself in to the Hartford Police Department for the horrific crimes that you have done."

Continuing his message to Morales, Howell said, "I promise you, and I make good on my promises, that you will be apprehended and I will use all resources to apprehend you. State, federal and all the partners that I have."

Once Morales is captured he will be held on a $3 million bond.

Matt Caron is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at mcaron@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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